Therapists for college students near University of Chicago
Our practice is guided by the most current research available. The treatments we utilize have been shown to be most effective in reducing symptoms and improving quality of life among patients with anxiety, mood and related disorders. We focus on what works. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an umbrella term for methods that share a focus on thoughts and behaviors that maintain symptoms, willingness to try new behaviors, and patterns of relating to our experiences. Between-session practice of these strategies serves to consolidate gains achieved in treatment sessions.
As a Syrian living in Chicago, I am sensitive to issues of race, ethnicity, cultural background, gender, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status, and religion and their influence on mental health. Therapy is one of the rare safe spaces to explore sensitive cultural identity topics. Where you can explore your sense of belonging and recreate your place in this world and how you want to be in it. We cannot change the past but we can change our relationship with the past, which ultimately shifts our present and future.
I work with adolescents and adults. I specialize in working with ADHD, with a focus on executive functioning skills such as organization, time management, motivation, emotional regulation, and follow-through. I also specialize in treating social anxiety, using exposure-based approaches to help clients gradually face feared situations, reduce avoidance, and build confidence in social and performance settings. We will work at your pace, creating structured and manageable exposures while also addressing the thoughts and physical sensations that keep anxiety going. My approach is compassionate, collaborative, and grounded in evidence based practices including CBT, ACT and ERP.
The distressing problems that bring you to therapy will later be revealed as the unlikely pathways towards a well-lived life. Pervasive sadness, suicidal thoughts, the heaviness on your shoulders are your psyche’s misunderstood messengers to summon you on a healing journey. Your symptoms have meaning and we will work together to understand them. In therapy, we will first work together to establish a sense of stability: from the first session, we’ll build a trusting relationship that offers a much-needed space for your concerns. You may benefit at this initial stage by simply having a trustworthy ear to hear. As a psychotherapist, I hold the tension of psychotherapy as a mysticism and a science. But it is no snake oil: community, storytelling, and self-exploration are the elixirs which lead to healing. If you would like to learn more about my approach, see if we may be a good fit, or schedule a session, please contact me today by call, text message, or email.
I work with clients struggling with trauma, grief, depression, anxiety, and identity. During our initial sessions we spend time trust building by getting to know one another, creating a safe environment, and establishing goals. I collaborate with clients through creative expression to develop a plan for addressing issues at hand, decrease stress, and increase mind-body connection.
Many of the clients I work best with are thoughtful, curious individuals who are seeking a deeper understanding of themselves. They may be struggling with relationships, feeling stuck in patterns they don’t quite understand, or carrying emotions that feel overwhelming or confusing. Often, they’ve tried to “figure things out” on their own but are ready for something more meaningful and supportive. What they tend to have in common is a desire to be truly seen and heard—not just to fix a problem, but to grow through it. My approach is warm, collaborative, and grounded in the belief that change happens in relationship—with a therapist who is present, attuned, and deeply respectful of your experience. I work well with people who are open to exploring the layers beneath their struggles, even if they don’t have all the words for it yet. If you're looking for a space where you can be yourself without judgment, and where your story will be met with care and curiosity, you might feel at home here.
I believe that trust and rapport are crucial in therapy, as they create a foundation for healing and growth. I have extensive experience in providing evidence-based therapies to help clients effectively manage PTSD symptoms, depression, and anxiety. I am well-versed in addressing the unique challenges that individuals with complex trauma face, such as dissociation and relationship difficulties. By fostering a trusting and supportive environment, I strive to empower clients to explore their emotions, thoughts, and experiences at their own pace. Together, we work towards building resilience, ultimately promoting improved well-being. My approach is rooted in a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy and person-centered techniques, allowing us to examine the connections between past experiences and present challenges. Through our collaborative efforts, we will create a safe space where you can gain insight, heal from past wounds, and ultimately achieve personal growth and fulfillment. I strive to create a safe and inclusive environment where everyone feels respected and valued. By embracing diversity, I aim to provide personalized services that cater to the unique needs and backgrounds of each individual client. During our free consultation, we can discuss your specific needs and goals. Remember, you don't have to face this alone.
New Light is a Lincoln Park based therapy practice, providing in-person and telehealth sessions for children, families, and adults. Founded to extend our expertise beyond the school setting, our clinicians have experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families with a range of presenting challenges. With a wide variety of clinical approaches including psychodynamic talk therapy, play therapy, EMDR and cognitive behavioral therapy, our foremost goal is to provide each client with individualized, compassionate, and culturally sensitive therapy. At New Light, we support and include people of any ability level, gender, age, race, religion, or sexual orientation
Thousand Branches Wellness – Chicago Loop offers compassionate, structured mental health care for teens and adults in the heart of downtown Chicago. We provide inclusive, evidence‑informed treatment for individuals navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, stress, and major life transitions. Our mission is to create a safe, supportive environment where clients can heal, grow, and build lasting resilience. Our highly trained clinicians deliver care through adult and adolescent Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP), and weekly specialty groups. Using evidence‑based approaches such as CBT, ACT, mindfulness, somatic therapy, and schema‑informed process work, we support both high‑functioning individuals who feel “stuck” and those needing more structure than traditional outpatient therapy. Thousand Branches Wellness is known for a responsive intake process, collaborative communication with referring providers, and culturally aware care. We focus on building stability, insight, and sustainable coping skills—helping clients move forward with confidence and connection.
In my sessions, I strive for that comfy, familiar feeling, like wrapping yourself in your favorite sweater—warm, cozy, and uniquely tailored to you. I'm all about building genuine connections, where you feel truly seen, heard, and supported. My therapy approach is a blend of warmth, authenticity, and teamwork, creating a safe, non-judgmental space where we can navigate life's challenges together with compassion and understanding. I believe in being direct yet gentle, sprinkling in a dose of humor and lightness when it fits, to craft an experience that's supportive and transformative, just like you deserve. I offer support across various areas, with a particular passion for guiding individuals and couples through grief & loss, trauma, relationship dynamics, cultural differences, body image issues, anxiety, and depression. Your journey is unique, and my commitment is to create a therapeutic experience that meets your specific needs, empowering you to thrive. I view therapy as a collaborative journey, where we navigate life's complexities together. I understand that reaching out can be hard, but I believe that you deserve this space—to be heard, to be seen, and to explore without judgment. It would be an honor for me to hold space for you and support you in your journey.
I am passionate about working with students experiencing grief, trauma, OCD, life transitions, depression, anxiety, panic, ADHD, identity exploration, relationship difficulties, suicidality, and more. I work specifically with young adults, college and graduate students, and athletes. I provide a safe, judgment-free space to share, explore, and find solutions to your struggles. I believe in exploring, not explaining, and provide clients with the agency to determine how they want sessions to look and feel. I bring authenticity, humor, transparency, and cultural humility to my work. I appreciate the courage required to book a session and look forward to meeting you.
Welcome. My name is Shinhae. I believe therapy is a journey of understanding and healing your inner self in the process of rebuilding a relationship with yourself as well as with others. My own therapeutic journey has allowed me to find new meaning and insight for me to embrace myself wholeheartedly. I strongly empathize with what it feels like to be alone in a cage of emotional and mental struggles. It is hard to overcome the situation with a hopeful mindset while in the state of being most vulnerable. I believe that understanding of self can uplift you to move forward with hope. I am grateful to walk along on your journey as if someone did to me.
Dr. Sarah Sanders is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist specializing in anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and life transition issues. Dr. Sanders individualizes her treatment approach to the specific needs of each client, often combining dynamic-relational, cognitive-dialectical-behavioral, and systemic-cultural approaches. Her priority is helping you work through your concerns and make changes in your life in a way that feels effective, collaborative, and nonjudgmental. Dr. Sanders completed her predoctoral internship at Northwestern University and her postdoctoral fellowship at Harper College, gaining significant experience working with life-transition issues, identity development, relationship concerns, eating disorders, and student mental health. Areas of interest also include family dynamics, anxiety, and mood disorders. Dr. Sanders' practice location is just east of Michigan Avenue on Wacker Drive. If you're ready to schedule, you are welcome to do so directly by visiting the Allow Wellness website: www.allow-wellness.com.
I enjoy helping people navigate things like the coming out process, grieving a death or anticipated one, relational struggles, exploring their sexual and gender identities, loss, major life transitions, and more. I specialize in treating grief, loss, complex trauma, and life transitions using attachment-based therapies and Internal Family Systems. Grief is a part of life that surfaces during death, loss, breakups, identity shifts, and more. As a grief therapist, I guide clients through the often overwhelming emotions that accompany these changes. Whether you're grieving a death, navigating a breakup, or facing life transitions like coming out, I offer tools to express pain, honor your experiences, and find meaning. Together, we’ll work on reconciling parts of you that may feel isolated in your grief or afraid to show your true feelings, while another part is longing for help and connection. Please reach out if you're ready to begin your healing journey. I care deeply about attuning to you and encouraging your healing process by asking meaningful questions and creating a space where safety and vulnerability can thrive. Therapy offers us a chance to collaborate on the issues you’re facing. Please reach out if you are interested in working together.
Perhaps you’re tired of not feeling good. Your relationships or career may be draining you and there could be a felt sense that there is more to life or something better for you out there. You might even be carrying a deep, nagging pain that needs release and yet, when the tears come, you hold them back in. Your struggles could leave you feeling unable to think clearly, experiencing tightness in your chest or your body, or even feeling like you weigh a million pounds. Over time, you could find yourself completely numb and not wanting to get out of bed in the morning. Whether these feelings are coming from the distant past or from something happening currently, this does not need to be your “normal”. With support, you can find relief and have greater peace in your life. I know what it’s like to feel empty or to question “how did my life get here?”. My experience with various mind body therapies, blended with traditional counseling, taught me that with compassion and determination, we can find our way out. I believe when we can openly share about ourselves without pressure and with knowing that everything is welcome, we are able to take small steps towards lasting change. From a young age, I had been fascinated with human behavior, introspection, and understanding our inner world. I became a therapist to help people explore all of the crevices where we hold our pain, not only to help connect the dots, but to expand awareness in both the mind and body. I believe this helps us to allow our tears to flow and hold our messiness with tenderness and grace. Working at the Family Institute at Northwestern University, showed me firsthand that change begins when we let go of labeling our thoughts, feelings, or sensations as “good/bad”, “right/wrong”, or “should/shouldn’t”. I am dedicated to helping people step away from these rigid beliefs and approach themselves with a gentle curiosity. I believe when we let go of the labels, we can learn to accept and integrate all parts of ourselves and our experiences with greater compassion. I also learned how important it is to blend a sense of lightheartedness and tough love during my role at Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center. I know change is not easy, and although we may never feel ready, it’s in doing it anyway and taking the first small steps that we begin to uncover our true nature. I understand how difficult it is to hold the uncertainty or pain in your life. You have the innate ability to regain a sense of balance and create internal space for any emotional experience. You deserve more and there is more for you out there. I am here to help you uncover and discover how big and free your life can be. Let’s connect now.
Group therapy practice located in downtown Chicago specializing in Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adults, Adolescents and Families.
Life can be difficult and everyone needs help at some point. I believe in a humanistic/person-centered approach that emphasizes the potential within people. Everyone has a different story, a different journey, a different destination. My goal as a therapist is to give you the support you need to get to where you want to be. Therapy is a collaborative effort and so it is through the combined work of the therapist’s experience in the mental health field and the client’s expertise in themself that this process is most effective. My previous work has primarily been focused on people within the LGBTQIA+ community as well as individuals dealing with substance use disorders and co-occurring conditions including but not limited to anxiety, depression, trauma, OCD, mood disorders, and personality disorders Between my time working at a residential sober house and a community mental health center, where I led substance use and LGBTQIA+ support groups, I have experience working with individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds dealing with a wide variety of mental health issues.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
We specialize in treating complex co occurring addiction, eating disorders, mood disorders and related trauma. Our patients are complex human beings and our goal is to treat the whole person and not just a single diagnosis.
I support people experiencing life transitions, stress, and relationship issues. I personalize treatment to each client using our relationship, scientific approaches, and collaboration to meet your goals. I also provide trauma centered therapy and EMDR.